UAE to Sign Major Infrastructure and Railway Deal at G20 Summit

The President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will actively participate at the G20 summit in the Republic of India at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, on September 9 and 10.

The UAE President arrived in New Delhi, the capital of India, on September 8. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad, an adviser for Special Affairs at the Ministry of Presidential Court of the UAE; Reem Al Hashimy, the Minister of State for International Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE; and Dr Sultan Al Jaber, the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, also arrived in India to participate at the 18th annual G20 Heads of State and Government Summit.

On September 9, the UAE President met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India reportedly invited the UAE President at the G20 summit. 

A major infrastructure and railway deal

The UAE is set to sign a major infrastructure and railway deal with India, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the US at the G20 summit. The four countries have already discussed the deal, which aims to boost trade between the Gulf countries and South Asia, linking Middle Eastern countries via railways and connecting to India through shipping lanes. 

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to announce the railway deal during the G20 summit. US President Joe Biden has hailed the railway deal that can connect the Middle-Eastern countries through rail links. 

The talks on the railway project included the UAE, Europe, US, Saudi Arabia and India. Reportedly, the talks on the project took place during a meeting at the I2U2 forum, which comprises the UAE, India, Israel, and the US.

US President Joe Biden will hold talks with the UAE President, the Indian Prime Minister and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman about the deal. The leaders can also hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit.

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UAE takes part at the G20 summit

UAE leaders are set to actively take part in various sessions at the G20 summit. The G20 summit, under the theme, ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future‘, also aims to discuss climate action plans in order to mitigate the effects of climate change. As the host of the COP28, the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, the UAE will discuss various strategies to mitigate climate change impacts.